Kewanee council approves firefighter side letter, streetlights, farm lease and school security agreement

The Kewanee City Council on Jan. 26 approved four resolutions covering firefighter compensation, public-safety lighting, leasing city farmland and a school security agreement.

Council approved Bill 26-01, a side letter to the collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 513 to address firefighter training and compensation tied to a single position. Fire Chief Welgat requested the side letter; Councilmember Baker moved approval, Councilmember Komnick seconded and the motion passed 5-0.

The council also approved Bill 26-06 authorizing Ameren Illinois to install additional streetlights at 212 N Burr Blvd, 417 N West St and 1215 E Seventh St to improve public safety. Councilmembers asked staff to provide Ameren’s guidelines for additional streetlights and to confirm how those guidelines align with Kewanee ordinances before further implementation steps; the motion, made by Councilmember Colomer and seconded by Councilmember Cernovich, passed 5-0.

Bill 26-11 awarded a cash rent farming lease on several city parcels totaling 48.3 tillable acres to Dana Peterson after a competitive bid process. Councilmember Komnick moved approval and Councilmember Baker seconded; the motion passed 5-0.

Bill 26-12 authorized an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Kewanee and Wethersfield Community Unit School District No. 230 for police security at extracurricular events. Councilmember Colomer moved approval and Councilmember Komnick seconded; council members noted these hours would not create overtime and would not be pensionable. The motion passed 5-0.

All four resolutions were approved by recorded tallies indicated in the meeting record; no additional amendments were recorded during the meeting.